Kendrick Lamar Talks About the Challenges of Growing Up in Compton

A look at Kendrick's childhood in Compton.

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Complex Original

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Kendrick Lamar was a star on the national stage last night at the Grammys—the same event where he won five trophies and swept the rap categories. His powerful performance captivated viewers and further drove home the notion that Kendrick is in another tier compared to his peers. With Kendrick, you can never forget where he comes from, and that's never more evident than in this new Noisey documentary, Bompton​, which takes an in-depth look at the culture of the city of Compton.

In the first episode, which they just rolled out today, the film crew talked with Kendrick about what it was like to grow up in Compton, and how he was able to dodge the gang life for a career in music. "When you hear these stories in good kid, m.A.A.d city, when you hear these stories in To Pimp a Butterfly, it's a little bit deeper than just music," Kendrick said. "It's cats out here really trying to do something and really try to spark the idea of positivity."

In addition to Kendrick, the crew talked with some of his childhood friends and teachers at his old high school, which they revealed Kendrick had donated money to under the radar recently. With Kendrick's monumental success as an artist and activist, it's always great to see the other side of the spectrum and get a real feel for how he grew up. If you missed it, you can watch Kendrick's empowering performance at the Grammys here

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